The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.

iCapital, Aviva Investors
iCapital, a global fintech platform driving alternative investments for the wealth and asset management industries, has just entered into a partnership with Aviva Investors, a global asset management business, to broaden access to Aviva Investors’ climate transition strategy focused on investments in private markets.  

The partnership will see iCapital support Aviva Investors’ distribution strategy through the creation of a Luxembourg-based feeder fund for private wealth investors, built on iCapital’s distribution capabilities through iCapital Marketplace and iCapital’s technology. iCapital Marketplace is a one-stop-shop connecting wealth managers, financial advisors, and their clients to a wide selection of alternative investment opportunities offered by prominent asset managers worldwide, the firm said in a statement.  

As one of Europe’s largest investment managers, with over ÂŁ234 billion ($302 billion) in assets under management as of 30 June 2024, Aviva Investors can offer investors access to private market investment opportunities, the firm added. 

“This partnership demonstrates that iCapital is the trusted technology partner to asset managers accessing the growing pool of private wealth, as wealth managers increasingly seek to benefit from including private market investments in a diversified portfolio for their private clients,” Marco Bizzozero, head of international at iCapital, said.

“Our partnership with iCapital is an important development in our distribution strategy, and we look forward to building out a compelling proposition for private wealth investors. We have a clear ambition of offering investors better access to the full breadth of private markets investment strategies and their benefits,” Charlie Jewkes, global head of  wealth at Aviva Investors, added. â€śWe believe the climate transition strategy we offer in private markets is a good example of this, taking a multi-asset approach to identifying investments we think offer best relative value, and which can support the energy transition whilst delivering long-term investment outcomes.”

Private markets are emerging as a major force in energy-transition investing. According to a Bloomberg NEF report, of the $487 billion of alternative assets analysed by BNEF, about 70 per cent are in infrastructure funds that finance everything from wind farms to charging networks. Furthermore, given PwC's estimate that an additional €400 billion ($433 billion) will need to be invested annually to reach the European Union’s 2030 climate targets, unlocking private capital is critical. By using iCapital’s technology and distribution capabilities, the strategy aims to accelerate the climate transition by delivering net zero emissions by 2040.  

Aviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva, operating in 14 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the United Kingdom.